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AMWU OHS Contacts

National CoordinatorDeb Vallance (03) 9230 5888 Mobile 0439 988 704

Victoria State Office (03) 9230 5700Frank Fairley 0425 713 263Georgie Kimmel 0425 784 815Andy Giles 0409 856 807Sarah Ross 0425 784 817Melinda Simpson 0425 784 820

New South WalesState Office (02) 9897 4200Dave Henry 0419 403 389Alan Mansfield 0418 638 425Mick Rattigan 0418 637 769

QueenslandState Office (07) 3236 2550 Brian Devlin 0418 714 251

South AustraliaState Office (08) 8366 5800Richard Wormald 0409 651 892

Western AustraliaState Office (08) 9223 0800 Glenn McLaren 0409 663 637

Tasmania State Office (03) 6228 7099

‘It’s no accident’ is the OHS newsletter of the AMWU. Feedback and story ideas to amwu@amwu.asn.au

May 2012

Analyses presented at the Cancer in the workplace: practical solutions forum on May 3 shows the highest numbers of workers at risk of work related cancer are employed in machinery manufacture (42,000), printing and allied industries (25,700), food (14,800) and plastics manufacturing (11,400).

Chair of Cancer Council’s Occupational Cancers Committee, Terry Slevin, said Australia remained in the dark ages when it came to reducing the risks of occupational cancer.

“There is no cohesion in the regulatory framework, no incentives for industry to reduce the use of toxins and no integrated approach to fixing these and other problems,” Mr Slevin said.

According to ACTU Assistant Secretary Michael Borowick, the fragmentation was evident in the absence of regulatory links between three of the key government agencies involved – “These three bureaucracies operate in silos, despite all of them having some responsibility for helping to protect Australian workers from occupational cancer,” Mr Borowick said.

“Compare this to the European Union, which is introducing the REACH, based on 'no data, no use principle’ that will coordinate and require action from companies throughout the EU, which has 27 member states, as many languages and 500 million people.”

Another example that works well for industry and workers is the Toxic Use Reduction Institute in Massachusetts, a version of which has recently been adopted in Ontario Canada.

“Australia is seen as a leader in cancer prevention more broadly, yet we lag well behind many comparable economies when it comes to protecting our workers from cancer risk,” Mr Slevin said.

PRESS RELEASE from Cancer in the Workplace forumRegulatory system in ‘dark ages’, conference hears

International Workers’ Memorial Day 2012 was commemorated in different ways across the country. Senator Doug Cameron unveiled a new memorial in Albury. The inscription reads, “In memory and hounor of the men, women and children who have died at work and to remind us of the importance of

improving health and safety in workplaces”.

South Australia saw the launch of the ‘Life Quilt’ which was created in memory of 10 people who lost their lives while at work. It was inspired by a Canadian Project, which is fitting as the first Workers’ Memorial Day was commemorated by Canadian trade unionists.

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Welding can make you feel sick The most common injuries linked with welding work are muscle sprains and strains (from awkward or difficult postures or heavy manual handling), eye injuries such as fine metal pieces or dusts and flash burns. However, the very small particles formed when the vaporised metal condenses in air can cause both short and long term ill health --- just what those effects are is dependant upon the metals and fluxes used.

Occupational exposure to welding fumes has been associated with metal fume fever, asthma, lung cancer, welder's pneumoconiosis, manganism and changes in the kidney due to cadmium.

Metal fume feverZinc oxide fumes, typically produced when welding gal (galvanised steel), can cause an immediate flu like illness called metal fume fever. Metal fume fever is also known as “Monday morning fever” as the symptoms occur after the weekend away from the daily exposures to metal oxide fumes. The body develops a tolerance to the fumes with everyday exposure, but this is lost during the non-welding days. This is important, as damage can still be occurring to the lungs, without the welder expriencing any immediate symptoms.

The common symptoms are fever, chills, muscle aches, chest pain, a non-productive cough, metallic taste in the mouth, headache and fatigue. As these symptoms are very similar to those caused by the flu or a cold, the diagnosis can sometimes be missed. Metal fume fever symptoms develop within 48 hours of exposure and resolve within 1–2 days; some treatment may be necessary to relieve symptoms.

Some metal fumes produced by weldingThe long-term exposure to iron oxide fumes is a contributor to metal fume fever.

Manganese oxides are known to be chronic toxins with central nervous system effects --- a slow deterioration of muscle control including walking and facial expression problems. Manganese oxide toxicity typically becomes apparent after long-term exposure to the fumes.

Nickel oxide is a known skin irritant and is classified as a potential lung and nasal carcinogen.

Gases generated from weldingCarbon monoxide is a colourless gas and overexposure can inhibit the red blood cells ability to carry oxygen in the blood.

Ozone, nitrogen oxide and nitric oxide are produced by the interaction of ultaviolet light and air. These are irritating to the eyes, nose and throat.

Degreasing with chlorinated solvents can produce phosgene, hydrgoen chloride etc. These also cause eye, nose and lung irritations. The symptoms may be delayed.

Cleaning metal with pickling paste can produce toxic hydrogen flouride and nitric acid.

The type and amount of fumes varies depending upon the composition of the metal being welded and the welding process (stick welding, MIG, fluxed core arc welding, TIG or submerged arc welding). TIG welding produces less metal fumes than say MIG, but higher levels of ozone and nitric oxide.

How much of these fumes and gases are breathed in by the welder depends on the ventilation --- general dilution ventilation is not enough. Effective and efficient

local exhaust ventilation is required. If the work also involves grinding or carbon arc gouging, the welder is much more likely to be exposed to hazardous levels of fumes and gases.

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Work Related AsthmaWe have little information in Australia, but as many as 1 in 6 people of working age who develop asthma may have work related asthma.

Work related asthma is diagnosed when there is an association between symptoms and work. The categories of work related asthma are:

• Work aggravated asthma - existing or new asthma made worse by work

• Occupational asthma - cause by exposures at work:

- Allergic or sensitised to substances (involves the immune system). Symptoms may occur sometime after exposure.

- Irritant when the airways react to the substance (does not involve the immune system) and symptoms develop within a few hours of exposure.

Whatever the type of work related asthma, the symptoms include:

• recurring sore or watering eyes; • recurring blocked or running nose; • bouts of coughing; • chest tightness; • wheezing; or • any persistent history of chest problems.

The symptoms improve on days away from work. Having these symptoms is not a diagnosis of work related asthma, but indicate the person’s health needs further medical investigation - for example, serial peak flow measurements, with at least four readings per day.

Workers most likely to develop occupational asthma include paint sprayers, mechanics and storage workers (diesel exhaust exposure), chemical workers, welders, plastics and rubber workers, metal workers, food processing workers and laboratory technicians.

The most frequently reported causative agents include isocyanates - found in many paints and foams - colophony and fluxes and aldehydes. Several hundred agents have been reported in the medical literature and new causes are reported regularly (see box for list of other common agents).

It is important to check Safety Data sheets and labels: for the risk phrases R42 and R42/43

• R42 ‘may cause sensitisation by inhalation’ (may lead to asthma), or

• R42/43 ‘may cause sensitisation by inhalation and skin contact’.

Removal from the exposure is essential The most important action is avoidance of exposure to the causative agent(s). Early diagnosis and early avoidance of further exposure, offer the best chance of complete recovery.

Workers who remain in the same job and continue to be exposed to the same causative agent after diagnosis are unlikely to improve and symptoms may worsen.

As about one third of workers with occupational asthma are unemployed after diagnosis, because of continued symptoms – prevention of work related asthma is essential.

It is important that people are not excluded from employment due to asthma: the evidence indicates that a previous history of asthma is not significantly associated with occupational asthma. However, when occupational asthma has been diagnosed the worker needs to be removed from exposure to the causative agent.

When asthma causing agents are used, regular health monitoring is essential.

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Some substances known to cause asthmaAzodicarbonamide - the expansion of polymers in the rubber and plastics industries Chromium (VI) compounds - present in stainless steel welding fume and used in electroplating Cobalt (metal and compounds) - present in the hard metal production Ethylenediamine - corrosive chemical with an irritating vapour used in the printed circuit board & metal finishing industries. Also used in epoxy coatings and resins and in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals Flux fume - gum rosin (colophony) is the form used by solderers Glutaraldehyde - used in the oil and gas industry for the inhibition of corrosion causing bacteria Isocyanates - used in manufacture of polyurethane foams, plastics, coatings, varnish, two-pack paints and adhesives Maleic anhydride - manufacture of polyester resins, oil additives and maleic acid Methyltetrahydrophthalic anhydride - production of epoxy resins used in the manufacture of special application plastics Nickel sulphate - electroplating industry and the production of hard metal Phthalic anhydride - manufacture of plasticisers, resins, dyes, pesticides and pharmaceuticals Subtilisins - enzymes used in the manufacture of detergents. Also food & leather processing Tetrachlorophthalic anhydride - production of epoxy resins for manufacture of plastics, paints and electronic components Trimellitic anhydride - production of plasticisers, wire enamels,surface coatings and wall and floor coverings.

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